Photoperiodic Signaling in Plants: Investigations into the Mechanism(s) by which FLOWERING LOCUS T Traffics Through the Phloem

在复杂生物有机体的进化过程中，发生了一些重要事件，导致生理和发育过程在有机体水平上的整合。这里的一个重要组成部分是识别和传输与环境输入有关的信息的信号网络的起源。例如，在植物界，一个信号系统进化来协调花的诱导与环境输入的白天长度。在这个项目中，将进行实验，以更详细地了解在植物中移动的分子。S维管系统传递成花信号，将茎尖分生组织重新编程为花序分生组织，然后花序分生组织继续形成花。这些研究将涉及一系列实验技术，并将需要整合从生物化学和分子到细胞、生理、遗传和整个植物水平的项目目标。该项目将解决以下具体目标：(a)阐明开花位点T（开花信号分子）进入维管系统的机制；(b)建立控制机制，确保将FT输送到可以形成花的顶端组织；(c)研究控制将FT输送到这些目标组织的机制。对控制FT远距离传播的分子事件的全面理解的发展将促进我们对植物器官间信号传导原理的理解。非循环血管系统。该项目的更广泛影响如下：从项目中产生的知识应该为发现和表征其他蛋白质提供基础，这些蛋白质可以作为其他非生物和生物输入的远距离信号剂。此外，开花植物是世界的主要组成部分。S食物来源。就社会效益而言，对开花信号网络的新见解将导致开发具有新型开花控制的作物。最后，在本项目下接受培训的年轻科学家将成为训练有素的专家骨干，为进一步发现远距离信号分子做出贡献。这些系统可能参与植物防御和养分获取；控制这些过程将有助于世界粮食安全。

PROJECT SUMMARYDuring the evolution of complex biological organisms important events occurred that led to the integration of physiological and developmental processes at the organismal level. An important component here was the origin of signaling networks that recognize and transmit information relating to environmental inputs. For example, in the plant kingdom, a signaling system evolved to coordinate floral induction with the environmental input of day length. In this project, experiments will be performed to develop a more detailed understanding of the molecules that move through the plant?s vascular system to transmit the florigenic signal that reprograms the shoot apical meristem into an inflorescence meristem, which then proceeds to form flowers. These studies will involve a range of experimental techniques and will require an integration of project objectives from the biochemical and molecular to the cellular, physiological, genetic and whole-plant levels. The project will address the following specific objectives: (a) elucidate the mechanism by which FLOWERING LOCUS T (FT), the florigenic signaling molecule, enters the vascular system, (b) establish the controls that operate to ensure delivery of FT to apical tissues where flowers can be formed and (c) investigate the mechanism(s) that controls the delivery of FT to these target tissues. Development of a comprehensive understanding of the molecular events that operate to control the long-distance transmission of FT will advance our understanding of the principles for inter-organ signaling through the plant?s non-circulatory vascular system. The Broader Impacts of the project are as follows. The knowledge generated from the project should provide a foundation for the discovery and characterization of additional proteins that serve as long-distance signaling agents for other abiotic and biotic inputs. In addition, flowering plants serve as a major component of the world?s food source. In terms of societal benefits, new insights into the florigenic signaling network should lead to the development of crops having novel control over flowering. Finally, the junior scientists who will receive training under this project will serve as a cadre of trained experts to contribute to the further discovery of long-distance signaling molecules. Such systems could be involved in plant defense and nutrient acquisition; control over these processes will contribute to world food security.